Ahead of the local elections – and the predictions of a bloodbath for the Conservatives – it seemed a safe bet that on the night the official Tory MP WhatsApp message group would be filled with complaints about bad results – possibly bad leadership – and a number of Conservative MPs warning emotional colleagues to hold it together and get behind Theresa May. Instead, the problem was of another variety: ‘where’s my graphic?’ Tory MPs used the thread to complain not about their leader but the fact the ‘Tory held’ or ‘Tory win’ Twitter banners weren’t ready in time to share.
As Theresa May goes into the weekend, her position looks safe. With the Tories holding onto key councils – Westminster, Wandsworth and Kensington – in London and making gains in West Midlands, the party had has a surprisingly good result than will ease concerns over the momentum behind Jeremy Corbyn. ‘It’s a score draw – the result doesn’t change the general direction but there is relief about London and as a party I think jubilation is still the word,’ a member of government explains. ‘Lots of plotters were going to use this as cover but they can’t now and that means May has a temporary shot in the arm that will see us through the bank holiday weekend.’
The bulk of Conservative MPs agree that this doesn’t change the bigger picture – there isn’t a consensus that an okay result should mean May can continue indefinitely. But the positive results in places like Redditch, Peterborough and Nuneaton are encouraging – and begin to sketch out a path to power for the Tories at the next election. Given that the customs union quandary continues to look perilous to May’s premiership, it may be that the Prime Minister’s foes will still get their chance soon enough to challenge her. But for now, Theresa May is safe – as is the bank holiday weekend for Conservative MPs.
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